A high number of children are getting infected by the new strain of coronavirus in the second surge of COVID-19, who were relatively unaffected in the first wave of the pandemic. Doctors have confirmed that even newborns and infants are contracting the infection, though their condition is manageable and rarely turning fatal. However, children within the age group of 5-12 years are at a greater risk. The second wave is turning out to be more impactful in children and has introduced new and severe symptoms.
As there is no vaccine for kids yet, it is becoming a major concern for parents on how to protect their children from contracting the disease, and if infected then what would be the best treatment plan.
Why children are getting affected by the second wave of COVID-19?
As per recent studies, experts have stated that the second wave has a double mutated new variant of coronavirus along with a combination of other viral strains, which have a tendency of attacking children and developing major symptoms in them. The new strain is capable of mimicking their body cells and escaping the immune system easily. This is why they are easily infecting kids.
What are the new symptoms developing in kids?
Children who are getting infected by the new strain of coronavirus are showing usual symptoms initially like mild fever, cough, cold, and abdominal issues. Some are having headache, body pain, diarrhea and vomiting.
After few days of infection, some cases are developing high fever (103-104 degrees celsius) which is constant for 5-6 days. Some cases may escalate to severe pneumonia or conditions like Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C).
New symptoms of mutated COVID strain infection in kids are:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Rashes
- Eye infection
- Fever
- Cough
How to protect them?
Lack of preventive measures at home, especially by those who are going outside is a major concern. We all should strictly follow social distancing, double masking, and hand hygiene when outside and once we reach home, make sure that we first get ourselves clean and sanitized and then meet our kids or touch any surfaces.
Don’t expose children to vulnerable areas like a crowded marketplace, parks, or close to any sick person (even at home). Avoiding their unnecessary travel outside and keeping them at distance from anyone showing symptoms can reduce the risk of their infection.
Parents should be very careful and must not ignore even mild symptoms in their child. In case you find your child developing any of the above symptoms, seek medical advice immediately. Early intervention can help in a better outcome. Diminish every possible way, Coronavirus might infect your kid and protect them from developing serious complications.
We at Sarvodaya Healthcare offer a “Complete Paediatric Care” under one roof to ensure your child gets the best treatment by the most experienced and comprehensive team of expert paediatricians. From managing a wide variety of health issues to highly advanced diagnostic tools, we not only treat the disease but also ensure the complete health of a child.
